Articles: nerve-block.
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A study of 25 patients was carried out to determine the efficacy of interscalene block (ISB) for the treatment of chronic upper extremity pain. An RSD score was used to categorize these patients. Seventeen of the 25 patients had less pain after ISB, and 14 also had increased range of motion of the affected limb. ⋯ ISB was compared with stellate ganglion block (SGB) in patients undergoing both treatments. ISB seemed to be at least as effective as SGB for treatment of RSD/causalgia and may have some advantages over SGB. The role of somatic and sympathetic blockade is discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Dose-response relationships for neostigmine antagonism of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block in adults and the elderly.
We have studied the dose-response relationship for neostigmine in 36 adult (ages 18-50 yr) and 36 elderly (ages > 70 yr) subjects during antagonism of neuromuscular block induced by vecuronium. All patients received vecuronium 0.08 mg kg-1 and neuromuscular block was monitored mechanomyo-graphically using the train-of-four (TOF) mode of stimulation. Six patients of each age group were allocated randomly to receive neostigmine 5, 15, 25, 35 or 45 micrograms kg-1 or saline at 10% recovery of T1 (first response in the TOF). ⋯ There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the time to spontaneous recovery of T1 to 10% between the adults (24 (SD 5.5) min) and the elderly (33 (7.8) min). Dose-response curves for neostigmine were parallel in the two age groups, but those for the elderly were significantly to the right of the curves for the adults. This suggests an apparently lesser relative potency of neostigmine, or the requirement of a larger dose, in the elderly for attaining antagonism of a moderately intense vecuronium block at the same time as in adults.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[The effect of adding clonidine to mepivacaine. Axillary brachial plexus blockade].
Clonidine (Cl) added to local anaesthetics (LA) prolongs the duration of both anaesthesia and analgesia after peripheral nerve blocks. In this study, we investigated the dose-dependent effect of Cl added to mepivacaine (M) on clinical efficacy, onset, and regression time of brachial plexus block. METHODS. ⋯ Neither the onset time nor the number of patients with adequate surgical anaesthesia was influenced by Cl. Considering the M plasma levels, it is unlikely that the prolongation of the block is caused by local vasoconstriction, which is proposed to be the mechanism of action of epinephrine. The mean differences in haemodynamic parameters were not of clinical relevance, but the two dramatic drops in BP and HR, probably caused by Cl, were significant.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1992
Brachial plexus block with the nerve stimulator: motor response characteristics at three sites.
Differences in motor response patterns, minimum electrical currents, and success rates using a nerve stimulator for brachial plexus block were determined for the interscalene, supraclavicular, and axillary approaches. ⋯ Localization of the brachial plexus with the nerve stimulator is equally effective at the interscalene, supraclavicular, and axillary sites. Current values in the range reported have no predictive value for success. Advantages of the nerve stimulator for brachial plexus block include an objective endpoint and continuous feedback.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1992
Case ReportsSelective block of nerves in the axillary approach to the brachial plexus.
Optimal surgical conditions for flexor tendon tenolysis in the hand were achieved by ulnar, radial, and musculocutaneous nerve block at the axilla combined with median nerve block at the wrist. ⋯ Palpation of nerves together with a nerve stimulator were used to localize the nerves accurately.